Evangelista-Aina Changed to No Decision

LOS ANGELES -- After much deliberation, the California State
Athletic Commission removed the only loss from Billy
Evangelista’s record Monday and replaced it with a no decision
during an appeals hearing.

Evangelista’s bout with Mike Aina at
Strikeforce Challengers Series 1 on May 15 in Fresno, Calif., ended
with a controversial knee that video replays showed struck Aina in
the shoulder, not the head as originally determined by referee
Herb
Dean.

“I’m glad the loss is taken off the record. I just think I fought a
great fight and everybody else saw that I was winning the bout,”
Evangelista told Sherdog.com following the CSAC’s ruling.

The commission did not have the opportunity to view the fight’s
conclusion on video and were forced to rely upon testimony from
Dean, Evangelista and CSAC Assistant Executive Officer Bill
Douglas, who was overseeing the event for the state.

Dean testified that his original decision that that blow was an
illegal strike to a grounded fighter was inaccurate. However, Dean
came to the conclusion that he was mistaken after viewing
slow-motion replay in the production truck with Douglas after the
decision had been made to award Aina the victory by
disqualification.

“The video showed it was a fair blow,” said Dean.

Douglas seconded Dean’s comments and assured the commission the
photo evidence presented to them was indeed accurate.

Evangelista read a statement to the commission asking for the
decision to be changed to a victory by technical knockout or a no
contest at the very least.

Acting Executive Director David Thornton recommended the commission
substitute a no decision for the disqualification handed down in
the cage.

The commission openly deliberated as to what they could or couldn’t
do according to California law. Commissioner Mario Rodriguez
offered a pair of motions that could not find a second -- one to
change the decision to a technical knockout and another to change
it to a technical draw.

Commissioner Dr. Christopher Giza raised a concern after both
motions failed that the regulatory body was in danger of setting a
precedent in regards to using instant replay, a matter that was
also on Monday’s meeting docket.

After clarification was made as to the number of rounds in the
contest, Rodriguez then offered a third motion to change the
outcome to a no decision. It was immediately seconded and
unanimously passed.

Evangelista’s amended record now stands at 9-0 with one no decision
while Aina’s now tallies at 11-6-1 with one no decision.